Door latch

ABSTRACT

900,432. Vehicle door latches. GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION. April 5, 1961 [April 20, 1960], No. 12154/61. Class 44. A vehicle door latch comprises a rotatable bolt 66 having ratchet teeth 82 on its end face-plate 80 which co-operate with ratchetteeth 91 on a non-rotatable detent 68 which is mounted on a shaft 72 to be axially slidable of the bolt. The bolt rotates on the end 74 of the shaft 72 and the detent is fixed to this shaft by a pin 86 engaging a slot 90. Arms 138a, 138b locate the detent in the casing 58 and a spring 95 normally holds the detent in engagement with the bolt. A release for the detent comprises a cup-shaped part 94 rotatably mounted on the part 89 of the detent and having openings with cam surfaces 106c and 106d which engage the pin 86 so that when the release member is rotated by a rack 110 engaging teeth 100 on the release member, the pin 86 slides along the cam surfaces whereby the detent is pulled axially away from the bolt, thus releasing it. The rack 110 is operated by a push-button engaging the crank 114 and a lock is incorporated whereby the rack is turned about its axis out of engagement with the teeth 100, thus locking the door. The rack may also be turned by a push-button inside the door-operating crank 118. The inside door handle is connected to a lever arm 136 having a pivot 132 and arms 134a, 134b which engage arms 138a, 138b of the detent to move it axially to effect release of the bolt. The detent has a projection 122 which engages a projection 117 on the rack, when the detent is moved, thus turning the rack into operative position when the detent is moved&#39; either by the inside door handle or by the bolt being turned upon closing of the door. The rack may be left in the inoperative position when the door is closed if the push-button is depressed, thus moving projection 117 out&#39; of alignment with projection 122. A spring- biased slidable shoe 64 bears against the lower surface of the striker bar 54 when the door is closed to prevent the door moving up and down.

N0V- 28, 1961 Y s. D. cocKBURN 3,010,750

DOOR LATCH Filed April 20, 1960 y 4 SheebS-Slfleet 1 fjf INVENTOR. final-N@ (bai/bum A ATTcRNsf Nov. 28, 1961 s. D. cocKBURN 3,010,750

DOOR LATCH 4 SheetsfSheet 2 Filed April 2o, 1960 ATTORNEY i S. D. COCKBURN DOOR LATCH 4 Sheetsheet 3 Filed April 20, 1960 ATTORNEY Nov.v 28; A1961 s. D. cocKBURN DOOR LATCH 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 20, 1960 A-rfonNg! United States Patent 3,010,750 DOOR LATCH Stanley D. Cockburn, Warren, Mich., assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 20, 1960, Ser. No. 23,541 13 Claims. (Cl. 292-279) This invention relates to a door latch, and more particularly to an improved door latch for an automobile.

One feature of the invention is that it provides an improved door latch.

Another feature of the invention is that it provides a door latch which is substantially smaller in size than other known latches and yet which incorporates all the desirable features of an automobile door latch, including automatic undogging and keyless locking.

Still a further feature of the invention is that it provides a door latch in which a rotary bolt, a detent and a detent release member are coaxially mounted on a common mounting shaft.

A further feature of the invention is that is provides a door latch having a rotatable bolt and a detent mounted coaxially with the bolt, the detent being movable axially between coupled and uncoupled relation with the bolt.

Yet another feature of the invention is that it incorporates a ratchet coupling the bolt to the detent to permit the door to close.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and from the drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is afragmentary `side elevational view of an automobile incorporating an improved door latch, parts which underlie the door outer panels being shown in broken lines;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged transverse vertical section through the front door latch of FIGURE `1, being taken along the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a horizontal section through the latch, being taken along the line 3 3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical section through the` latch, being taken along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 2 and showing the detent coupled to the bolt;

FIGURE 5 is a horizontal section taken along the line 5 5 of FIGURE 12, part of the operating shaft being broken away;

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 4, but showing the detent uncoupled from the bolt;

FIGURE 7 is a section taken along the line 7-7 of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a view similar to FIGURE 6 taken along the line 8-8 of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is an exploded view of the bolt and dentent showing the ratchet coupling means;

FIGURE 10 is an isometric View of the latch removed from the case;

FIGURE l1 is an exploded isometric view of the latch; and

FIGURE l2 is an isometric View of the latch in the case.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the reference character 10 designates an automobile having a front door 12 hingedly mounted at its front edge on the automobile body in conventional manner (not shown) and carrying a latch which is designated generally as 14 and which is mounted adjacent the rear edge of the door. The automobile also has a rear door 16 which is hingedly mounted at its front edge on a body center pillar-in coni ventional manner (not Shown) and which, adjacentl its rear edge, mounts a latch designated generally as 18.

The front door has a conventional gripping handle e ICS 20 which is -bolted to the door outer panel and which mounts a slidable push button 22 for operating the latch from the outside. A conventional turn handle 24 is mounted on the inner door panel at a location remote from the latch 14 and is connected to the latch by a rod 26. In order to lock the door from the outside there is a conventional key cylinder 28 mounted lin `the door outer panel below the handle 20 and having a key-operated shaft 29 which is connected to a locking device in the door latch. To lock the door from the inside of the automobile body there is a garnish molding button 30 projecting from the garnish molding of the front door and connected to the latch -14 by a rod 32.

The rear `door is generally similar except for the omission of an outside locking means. On the rear door there is a gripping handle 34 which mounts a slidable push button 36 for operating the latch from outside of the car. A turn handle 38 on the door inner panel is connected by a rod 40 to the rear door latch 18 and an inside locking device includes a conventional garnish molding 42 connected by a rod 44 to a bell crank 46 which in turn is connected by a rod 4S to the latch 18.

Inasmuch as the front and rear door latches 14, 18 are generally similar in construction, only the front door latch 14 is shown and described in detail.

The front door latch 14 is adapted to cooperate with a striker 50 which comprises a mounting portion 52 that is bolted to the body center pillar adjacentr the door latch and which has a bent portion forming a striker bar 54 having two upstanding teeth 56 for cooperation with the latch bolt in a manner later to be described. The latch 14 has a frame which houses all of the latch parts except the bolt and a portion of the outside operating shaft and Which includes a main casing portion 58 that is bolted to the jamb face of the door on the inner surface thereof. Inside the door the case is closed by a cover plate 60. The bolt projects out of the case 58 through an opening in the jamb face of the door-and into a bolt housing 62 Which is secured to the case 58 and which projects out beyond the outer surface of lthe jamb face of the door. In addition to encasing the bolt, the housing 62 in its lower portion seats a conventional spring biased sliding shoe 64 which, when the door is closed, bears against the lower surface of the striker bar 54 to provide a dovetail and hold the door against up and down movement. v

The heart of the latch 14, and the feature which results in substantially smaller overall size of the latch when compared with other automobile door latches, is an arrangement whereby a bolt designated generally as 66, a detent designated generally as 68 and a detent release member designated generally as 70 are all mounted coaxially on a short mounting shaft designated generally as 72 which is nonrotatably supported in the latch frame or casing between the face of the bolt housing 62 and the cover plate 60.

The bolt 66 is rotatably mounted on a reduced end portion 74 of the mounting shaft 72, and the bolt comprises a gear pontion 76 having a plurality of peripheral latching teeth 78 for engagement with the striker teeth 56 when the door is closed and a face plate 80 which preferably is formed integrally with the gear portion 76 of the bolt and which has on its end face a plurality of ratchet teeth 82. The bolt 66 is rotatable on the mounting shaft portion 74 and is retained on the shaft by the outer face of the bolt housing 62.

The detent, which is designated generally as 68, is slidably but nonrotatably mounted on the enlarged center portion Y"84 of the mounting shaft 72, being held against rotation relative to the mounting shaft by a detent cam follower pin 86 which is mountedin upper and lower openings 88 formed in a cup-shaped portion 89 of the 3 detent and which projects through an elongated longitudinally extending slot 90 which is formed in the enlarged center portion S4 of the mounting shaft 72. The assembly including the detent and the mounting shaft is held against rotation by two studs 138a and 1318!; which project through oppositely disposed slots' in the lock casing,y

as indicated in FIGURES 2, 3 and 12. The enlarged body portion 93 of the detent has formed in its face 92 which is adjacent the bolt face 80, -a plurality of ratchet teeth 91 which are complementary to the -bolt ratchet teeth 82 and which, when (they engage with the bolt ratchet teeth 82, serve to hold the bolt against rotation in an unlatching or door opening direction. A coil spring 95 seats between the inner surface of the enlarged bodyV 93 of the detent and a shoulder formed on the detent release member 70 to yieldably urge the detent toward the bolt so that the detent ratchet teeth 941 are normally in coupled engagement with the bolt ratchet teeth 82 to hold the bolt against rotation in an unlatching or door opening direction.

When the door is `being closed, the bolt rotates as its latching teeth 78 ride over' the teeth 56 of the striker. The ratchet arrangement between the bolt and the detent permits rotation ofthe bolt in a latching or door closing direction, since `as 'the bolt rotates, its ratchet teeth 82 cam over the sloping back surface of. the d etent ratchet teeth 91, causing the ratchet to slide on the mounting shaft. In the event thev latch parts should be in locked position when the door is being closed, this sliding moved ment of the detent results in automatic undogging or automatic movement of lthe latch parts back to unlocked position in a manner later to be described.

The detent release member 70 has a cnp shaped body portion 94 which encases the body portion. 89 of.. the detent. The cup-shaped portion is closed at its base by a gear Vsegment 98 having a plurality of gear teeth 100 formed on its periphery. The gear Segment 98 has a central circular opening which receives acircular hub 102 formed near the end of the mounting'shaft 72 so that the detent release member is rotatable on the shaftl 72. At its end the shaft 72 has `a key 104 which is received in a complementary centrally disposed opening in the back plate 6) of the look casing to hold the shaft 72 against rotation in the casingi Oppcsitely disposed triangular openings 106a and 106b are formed in the cupeshaped portion 94 of the detent release member 70 and these openings receive opposite ends of the detent cam follower pin 86. The' openings 106a and 10611 respectively provide cam surfaces 106C and ltfd so that upon rotation of the detent release member in a counterclockwise direction as the partsV appear FIGURE 2, the detent 68 slides on the mounting shaft 72 to uncouple the detent ratchet teeth 91 from the bolt ratchet teeth 32 and permit free rotation of Ithe bolt 66.

In order Vto provide means for rotating the detent release member 70 to open the door from the outs/ide,V

Vthere is an operating shaft 168 which is journaled inj and projects through Vopposite side walls of the lock casing 8, itheV shaft 108 |being longitudinally (axially) Vmovable as well as being rotatable relative to the casing.Y A rack n 110 is mounted on the shaft 168 in such a position thatV Y the rack teeth 112 normally engage the gear teeth 100,V

the rack teeth 112 providing drive means and the vgear teeth 160 providing driven means for the outside actua- Y tor. At its outer end the operating shaft i118 mounts a crank 114 which is connected to the outside key locking' means and which is also engaged by thepush button operator to cause axial movement of the shaft. A coil spring 116 on lthe shaft acts to return it to its 4normal operative position after actuation by the outside pus-h button andv a stop abutment 117 on the shaft 198 engages the casing wall to limit return movement of Athe shaft uhderforce Yoffthespring 116. At its inner end the shaft 11m-mounts Y a crank 118 `adaptedlto be connected to the inside locking means.k The shaft' also .carries arrundoggi'ng tabV 120 which. is adapted to` cooperate with a,complen'lentaryV un'- Y 4 dogging member 122 on the detent 68 in `a manner later to ybe described. The push button 22 (FiGURE l) is connected in conventional manner to a push rod 124 (FIGURE 2) which terminates adjacent the crank 114 so that when the push button is pushed in, fthe rod 124 pushes the operating shaftltli to the left in FIGURE 2, causing the rack 110 to move to the left and rotate the detent release member in a counterclockwise direction.

In order to look the door against outside operation, the

operating shaft 108 may lbe rotated a few degrees in a clockwise direction (FIGS. 4, 6 and 8) to uncouple the rack teeth 112 from the gear teeth 100 so that upon actuation of the outside push button the operating shaft 108 merely free wheels and the outside push button is rendered ineifective.' This looking rotation ofthe shaft may be accomplished from the outside through the convenA tional key lock 28 or from inside of the automobile throughthe conventional garnish molding button 30. As shown in FIGUR 2, there is a key shaft 29 which is connected at one end in conventional manner (not shown) to the key cylinder and which is connected at .the other end to the crank 114. Turning a proper key in the `key cylinder serves to rotate the operating shaft 108 through la few degrees of arc to uncouple the rack 112 from the gear teeth 100. The locking rod 32 which extends from the inside garnish. molding button is connected to the crank 118 at the inner end of the shaft 108 so that depression of the garm'sh molding button 32 rotates the shaft 108 to its uncoupled or locked position.

In order to open the door from the inside there is a yoke .130 which is pivotally mounted on a pin 132 extending between the opposite Walls of the casing 578. The yoke is formed as a bell cran-k having first lever arms 1340 and 134b lfor engaging and operating the detent and a second lever arm 136 which is connected to the remote handle operating rod 26. As shown in FIGURE 2, the detent body 92 is formed with outwardly projecting studs 138a and 138b which lie adjacent the respective upstanding lever arms 134:1 and 134b ofthe yoke 130 so that when j the remote handle 24 is turned to swing the yoke on its pivot, the upsta'nding arms 134:1 and 13417 pick up the respective detent studs 138a and 138k and shift the detent 68 along 'the mounting shaft 72 to uncouplerthe detent ratchet teeth l91 from the bolt ratchet teeth '82 and permit free rotation of the bolt. l-t should be noted that neither the inside nor the outside locking means affects operation of the latch from the inside of Ithe automobile.

In order to open the latch from outside; the push button 22 is depressed so thatV the push rod 124 moves the operating shaft 108 axially, the intermeshing gear andV rack teeth causing the detent release member 7) to rotate. The cam surfaces 106C and 106d on the detent release member whichare inengagement with the detent cam follower pin 86 pull the detent further into the detent release member so that the detent ratchet teeth disengage from the bolt ratchet teeth'to permit the bolt to rotate.

To lock the door, either a key is turned to operate the crank 114 or the garnish molding' button 30 is depressed to operate the crank 118. Iny eitherl event the operating shaft 108 Vwith its rack 110 is'rotated to uncouple the rack teeth 112 from the gear teeth 100 of Vthe detent release member gear 98 andrplace the parts in locked condition. With the parts inV this condition, operation Vof the outside push button 22 will merely cause the operating shaft 108 to free wheel. In all cases, when the outside push button 22 is released the spring, 116 will return the shaft axially to its normal position, the stop member 117 engaging a wall of the lock casing tolimit return movement when the shaft is in its properpositon. Y

The door lock incorporates the features of automatic undogging, remote undogging and keyless locking; Automatic undogging means thatifthe latch partsV are placed apio/75o tion. However, if the operator desires to do so, he may lock the door without a key merely by depressing the outside push button 22 while the door is being closed. Remote undogging means that if the door is opened from the inside when the latch parts are in locked position, the parts will be shifted to unlocked position. Assuming that the parts are in locked position as shown in FIGURE 8 and the door is slammed shut, rotation of the bolt 66 as the bolt latching teeth 78 ride over the striker teeth 56 will cause the bolt ratchet teeth 82 to cam over the sloping back side of the detent ratchet teeth 91, sliding the detent on the mounting shaft 72 during this camming action. As the detent slides, its undogging tab 122 will engage the undogging tab 120 on the shaft 108 and rotate the shaft 108 back to its unlocked position. Remote undogging may be accomplished in a similar manner. If the latch parts are in locked position and the door is opened by means of the inside remote handle 24, the de- \ent 68 will be moved along the shaft 72 out of coupled relation with the bolt. During this movement the detent undogging tab 122 will engage the undogging tab 120 on the operating shaft 108 and rotate the shaft back to its unlocked position. Automatic undogging may be avoided and keyless locking may be accomplished by depressing the outside push button 22 while the door is being closed. If this is done the undogging tab 120 will be moved to the left (FIGURE 2) out of the path of movement of the undogging tab 122 so that the shaft 108 will not be rotated to its unlocked position.

While I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention, it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as set forth in the appended claims.

l claim:

l. A vehicle door :latch of the character described, including: a mounting shaft; a bolt rotatably mounted on said shaft and having a plurality of ratchet teeth on an end face thereof and a plurality of peripheral latching teeth; a detent slidably but non-rotatably mounted on said shaft, said detent having a plurality of ratchet teeth facing the bolt ratchet teeth and normally being coupled thereto to hold the bolt against rotation in one direction; a detent release member rotatably mounted on said shaft; means coupling said detent to said detent release member comprising a cam follower projecting from said detent into engagement with a cam on said detent release member whereby rotation of said detent release member causes said detent to slide on said shaft to uncoupled the detent ratchet teeth from the bolt ratchet teeth; and means for roating said detent release member.

2. A vehicle door latch of the character described, including: a mounting shaft; a bolt rotatably mounted on said shaft and having a plurality of ratchet teeth on an end face thereof and a plurality of peripheral latching teeth; a detent slidably but non-rotatably mounted on said mounting shaft, said detent having a plurality of ratchet teeth facing the bolt ratchet teeth; spring means yieldably urging said detent ratchet teeth into coupled engagement with said bolt ratchet teeth to hold the bolt against rotation in one direction; a detent release member rotatably mounted on said shaft; means coupling said detent to said detent release member comprising a cam follower on said detent and a cam on said detent release member, the cam follower projecting from said detent into engagement with said cam whereby rotation of said detent release member causes said detent to slide on said mounting shaft to uncouple the detent ratchet teeth from the bolt ratchet teeth; and outside latch operating means for rotating said detent release member.

y 3. A vehicle door latch of the character described, including: a mounting shaft; a bolt rotatably mounted on said shaft and having a plurality of ratchet teeth on an end face thereof and a plurality of peripheral latching teeth; a detent slidably but non-rotatably mounted on said mounting shaft, said detent having a plurality of ratchet teeth facing the bolt ratchet teeth; spring means yieldably urging said detent ratchet teeth into coupled engagement with said bolt ratchet teeth to hold the bolt against rotation in one direction; a detent release member rotatably mounted on said shaft; means coupling said detent to said `detent release member comprising a cani follower on said detent and a cam on said detent release member, the cam follower projecting from said detent into engagement with said cam whereby rotation of said detent release member causes said detent to slide on said mounting shaft to uncouple the detent ratchet teeth from the bolt ratchet teeth; outside latch operating means for rotating said detent release member; and inside operating means comprising a lever engaging said detent and adapted upon actuation to slide said detent on said mounting shaft to uncouple the detent ratchet teeth from the bolt ratchet teeth.

4. A vehicle door latch of the character described, including: a mounting shaft; -a bolt rotatably mounted on said shaft and having 4a plurality of ratchet teeth on an end face thereof and a plurality of peripheral latching teeth; a detent slidably but non-rotatably mounted on said mounting shaft, said detent having a plurality of ratchet teeth facing the bolt ratchet teeth; spring means yieldably urging said detent ratchet teeth into coupled engagement with said bolt ratchet teeth to hold the bolt against rotation in one direction; a detent release member rotatably mounted on said shaft; means coupling said detent to said detent release member to slide the detent on said shaft to uncouple the bolt ratchet teeth from he detent ratchet teeth upon rotation of said detent release member; and means for rotating said detent release member, comprising driven means yon said detent release member and a longitudinally movable and rotatable operating shaft having drive means normally coupled to said driven means; and latch operating means for moving said operating shaft longitudinally to rotate said detent release member.

5. Apparatus of the character claimed in claim 4, wherein said driven means comprises a gear on said detent release member and said drive means comprises a rack on said operating shaft.

6. A vehicle door latch of the character described, including: a mounting shaft; a bolt rotatably mounted on said shaft and having a plurality of ratchet teeth on an end face thereof and a plurality of peripheral latching teeth; a detent slidably but non-rotatably mounted on said mounting shaft, said detent having a Vplurality of ratchet teethfacing the bolt ratchet teeth; spring means yieldably urging said detent ratchet teeth into coupled engagement with said bolt ratchet teeth to hold the bolt against rotation in one direction; a detent release member rotatably mounted on said shaft; means coupling said detent to said detent release member whereby rotation of said detent release member causes said detent to slide on said shaft to uncouple the detent ratchet teeth from the bolt ratchet teeth; means for rotating said detent release member, comprising a gear on said detent release member and a longitudinally movable and rotatable operating shaft having a rack normally coupled to said gear; outside latch operating means for moving said operating shaft longitudinally to rotate said detent release member; inside latch operating means compris-ing a lever engaging said detent and movable upon actuation to cause said detent to slide on said mounting shaft to uncouple the detent ratchet teeth from the bolt ratchet teeth; and locking means for rotating said operating shaft from unlocked to locked position to uncouple the rack from the gear and render the outside latch operating means ineffective.

7. Apparatus of the character claimed in claim 6, wherein the means coupling the detent to the detent release member comprises ya pin on said detent and a cam on said detent release member, the pin projecting from the detent into engagement with the cam whereby rotation 7 of said detent release member causes said detent to slide on said mounting shaft to uncouple the detent ratchet teeth from the bolt ratchet teeth.

8. Apparatus of the character claimed in claim 7, wherein said mounting shaft has an elongated slot into which said pin projects to hold the detent and mounting shaft against relative rotation but to permit sliding movement of the detent on the shaft.

9. In a vehicle h-aving body and door members, a toothed striker mounted on one member, a latch mechanism mounted on the other member and comprising, a mounting shaft; a bolt rotatably mounted on said shaft and having a plurality of ratchet teeth on an end face thereof and a plurality of peripheral latching teeth for engagement With said toothed str-iker when the door is closed; a detent slidably but non-rotatably mounted on said mounting shaft, said detent having a plurality of ratchet teeth facing the bolt ratchet teeth; spring means yieldably urging said detent ratchet teeth into coupled engagement With said bolt ratchet teeth to hold the bolt against rotation yin one direction; a detent release member rotatably mounted on said shaft; means coupling said detent to said detent release member whereby rotation of said detent release member causes said detent to slide on said mounting shaft to uncouple the detent ratchet teeth from the bolt ratchet teeth; means for rotating said detent release member comprising driven means on said detent release member' and a longitudinally movable and rotatable operating shaft having drive means normally coupled to said driven means; latch operating means for moving said operating shaft longitudinally to rotate said detent release member; locking means for lrotating said operating shaft from unlocked to locked position to uncouple the drive means from the driven means and render the latch operating means ineffective; and undogging means having a first portion on said detent and a second portion on said operating shaft, the rst portion striking the second portion upon sliding movement of said detent when the door closes to rotate the operating shaft from locked to unlocked position, the bolt ratchet teeth camming over the `detent ratchet teeth when the door closes to slide said detent on said mounting shaft, said second portion of the undogging means being moved out of the path of movement of said first portion of the undogging means when said latch operating means is actuated to move said operating shaft longitudinally.

l0. In a vehicle having body and door members, a toothed striker mounted on one member, a latch mechanism mounted on the other member and comprising, a mounting shaft; a bolt rotatably mounted on said shaft and having a plurality of ratchet teeth on :an end face thereof and a plurality of peripheral latching teeth for engagement with said toothed striker when the door is closed; a detent slidably but-non-rotatably mounted on said mounting shaft, said detent having a plurality of ratchet teeth facing the bolt ratchet teeth; spring means yieldably urging said detent ratchet teeth ino coupled engagement with said bolt ratchet teeth to hold the bolt against rotation lin one direction; a detent release member rotatably mounted on said sha-ft; means coupling saidV detent to'said detent release member comprising a cam follower on said detent and a cam on saidtdetent release member, the cam follower projecting from said detent into engagement with said cam whereby rotation of 'said detent release member causes said detent to slide on said mounting shaft to uncouple the detent ratchet teeth from the'bolt ratchet-teeth; inside latch operating meansconiprising a lever engageable with said detent and adapted upon pivotal movementn thereof to slide said detent on said mounting shaft to uncouple the detentV ratchet Vteeth from the bolt ratchet teeth; means for rotating said detent release mem-ber, comprising driven meansron said detent release ymember and Va longitudinally movable and rotatable operating shaft havingdrive means normally coupled to said driven means; outside latch operating means for moving said operating shaft longitudinally to yrotate said detent release member; locking means for rotating said operating shaft from unlocked to locked position to uncouple the drive means from the driven means and render the outside latch operating means ineective; and undogging means having a first portion on said detent and a second portion on said operating shaft, the shaft portion striking the second portion upon sliding movement of said detent when the door closes to rotate the operating shaft from locked to unlocked position, the bolt ratchet teeth camming over the detent ratchet teeth when the door closes to slide said detent on said mounting shaft.

ll. In a vehicle having body and door members, a toothed striker mounted on one member, a latch mechanism mounted on the other member and comprising, a mounting shaft; a bolt rotatably mounted on said shaft and having a plurality of ratchet teeth on an end face thereof and a plurality of peripheral latching teeth for engagement with said toothed striker when the door -is closed; a detent slidabl-y but non-rotatably mounted on said mounting shaft, said detent having a plurality of ratchet teeth facing the bolt ratchet teeth; spring means yieldably urging said detent ratchet .teeth ino coupled engagement with said bolt ratchet teeth to hold the bolt against rotation in one direction; a detent release member rotatably mounted on said shaft; means coupling said detent to said detent release member comprising a pin on said detent and a cam on said detent release member, the pin projecting from said detent into engagement with said whereby rotation of said detent release member causes said detent to slide on said mounting shaft to uncouple the detent ratchet teeth from the bolt ratchet teeth; means for rotating said detent release member comprising a gear on said detent release member and a longitudinally movable and rotatable operating shaft having a rack normally 4'coupled to said gear; latchoper'ating means for Amoving said operating shaft longitudinally to rotate said detent release member; locking means for rotating said operating shaft to uncouple from unlocked to locked position the gear fromV the rack and render the latch operating means ineffective; and undogging means having a iirstportion on said detent and a second portion on said operating shaft, the 4i-rst portion striking the second portion upon sliding movement of said detent when the door closes to rotate the operating shaft from locked to unlocked position, the bolt ratchet teeth camming over the detent ratchet teeth when the door closes to slide said detent on said mounting shaft, said second portionof the undogging means being moved out kof the path of movement of said rst portion of the undogging means when said latch operating means is actuated to move said operating shaft longitudinally. Y

12. In a vehicle having body and door members, a toothed striker mounted on one member, a latch mechanism mounted on the other member and comprising, a mounting shaft; a bolt rotatably mounted on said shaft and have a plural-ity of ratchet teeth on an end face thereof and a plurality of peripheral latching teeth for engagementwith sm'd toothed striker when the door is closed; a detentl slidably but nonrotatably mounted on said mounting shaft,fsaid detent yhaving a plurality of ratchet teeth facing the bolt ratchet teeth; spring means yieldably urging said detent ratchet teeth into coupled engagement with said bolt ratchet teeth to hold the boit against rotation in one direction; a detent release member rotatably mounted on said sha-ft; means coupling said etent to said detent release member comprising a pin on said detent and a cam on said detent release member, the pin projecting from said detent into engagement with said cam whereby rotation of said detentrrelease member causes said detent to slide on said mounting shaftl to uncouple the detent ratchet teeth from the bolt rachet` teeth,-. saidV mounting shaft havingan elongated slot into Vwhich said pin projects to hold the detent and the mountmovement of the detent on the shaft; means for rotating said detent release member, comprising driven means on said detent release member and a longitudinally movable and rotatable operating shaft having drive means normally coupled to said driven means; latch operating means for moving said operating shaft longitudinally to rotate said detent release member; locking means for rotating said operating shaft from unlocked to locked position to uncouple the drive means from the driven means and render the latch operating means inerective; and undogging means having a rst portion on said-detent and a second portion on said operating shaft, the first portion striking the second portion upon sliding movement of said detent when the door closes to rotate the operating shaft from locked to unlocked position, the bolt ratchet teeth camming over the detent ratchet teeth when the door closes to slide said detent on said mounting shaft, said second portion of the undogging means being moved out of the path of movement of said rst portion of the undogging means when said latch operating means is actuated to move said operating shaft longitudinally.

13. A vehicle door latch of the character described, including: a mounting shaft; a bolt rotatably mounted on said shaft and having `a plurality of ratchet teeth on an end face thereof and a plurality of peripheral latching teeth; a detent slidably but nonrotatably mounted on said shaft, said detent having a plurality of ratchet teeth facing the bolt ratchet teeth; means yieldably urging said detent ratchet teeth into coupled engagement with said bolt ratchet teeth to hold the bolt against rotation in one direction; a detent release member movably mounted on said shaft; means coupling said detent to said detent release member to slide the detent on said shaft to uneouple the bolt ratchet teeth from the detent ratchet teeth upon movement of said detent release member, said last mentioned means also holding the detent and mounting shaft against relative rotation; and means for moving said detent release member.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 346,095 Edwards July 27, 1886 944,542 Grease-Williams Dec. 28, 1909 1,512,855 Mayotte Ct. 21, 1924 

